The Great Wall of China

Tips & articles

Emily K Wolman

Lonely Planet Writer

No matter what you think it'll be like the Great Wall will still blow you away. You can't prepare yourself for the awe, but you can prepare for experiencing this ultimate historical hotspot. Here's how:

It's the starting point of a 10km steep, stony hike to Simatai. Arriving at Simatai, you may have to buy another ticket.

You can do the walk in the opposite direction, but getting a ride back to Beijing from Simatai is easier than from Jinshanling. Make arrangements with your driver to pick you up.

Tours

When choosing a tour, check that the tour goes to where you want. If you don't want to go to the Ming Tombs, don't pick a tour that combines Badaling with the Ming Tombs.

Some tours make detours to jade factories, gem exhibition halls and Chinese medicine centres (where tourists are diagnosed with bogus ailments that can be cured only with high-priced Chinese remedies, supplied there and then). When booking a tour, check that such scams and unnecessary diversions are not on the itinerary.

If you want to spend some significant time at the wall our recommended partners have three or ten day hikes.